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This is my second feature in a series about mental health for Canadian Nurse in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Suicide is a devastating tragedy — not only for those who take their own lives — but also for the family and friends left behind.

Around the time this story was published, I learned that a friend of an extended family member died by suicide. I didn’t know the family well, but I do remember him having a good time playing catch with his Dad many evenings while he was growing up.

It’s difficult to fathom why some people take their lives, and harder still to learn that stigma about mental illness prevents so many from reaching out to seek help before it’s too late. For the young man who died and his family, their tragedy was compounded by an additional layer of stigma imposed by religion and culture.

Those close to the family knew the truth, but the family would not talk about it. According to their beliefs, suicide is the worst thing someone can do. An admission of suicide would have meant the deceased young man would not have received ceremonial blessings and it would have changed where he was buried.

I sincerely hope the family’s religious beliefs and cultural traditions do not deny them the opportunity to seek help to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy. Effective postvention care for bereaved family members views trauma as an injury, not an illness or a weakness. Effective care does not impose blame or guilt or ask “what’s wrong with you,” but shifts the perspective to “what’s happened to you” to help people cope with the trauma.

Experts say that suicide is preventable and that there are many treatments available that can help people in crisis. For example, the 14-hour ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshop teaches participants how to connect with, understand and help people who are at immediate risk of suicide. ASIST is a program offered in communities across Canada by Calgary-based LivingWorks Education.

As today is the annual Bell Let’s Talk Day to raise mental health awareness, I’m sharing my recent feature about mental health and stigma for Canadian Nurse magazine.

Stigma is one of the main reasons why those who are suffering from a mental health issue do not reach out for help. Reducing stigma among health-care providers, one of four key target groups, is a top priority for the Mental Health Commission of Canada through their Opening Minds initiative.

Part of my research for this story included watching the first annual Bell Lecture on anti-stigma, called Breaking the Silence: Let’s Talk About the Stigma of Mental Illness. In the lecture, Dr. Heather Stuart, Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-stigma Research Chair at Queen’s University, recounts a colleague’s personal experience with stigma. She makes a compelling case for the need for a shift in thinking about mental health as a public health issue: “In many places in Canada, it’s okay for public health workers to go into schools with condoms and bananas, but it’s not okay to go in and talk about mental health issues, yet we know kids in high schools are at risk.”

James FitzGerald, journalist and award-winning author of What Disturbs Our Blood, also speaks in this lecture. He shares his personal experience with stigma as he dealt with his own issues and uncovered his father’s history while writing the book.

You can access the free podcast for Breaking the Silence: Let’s Talk About the Stigma of Mental Illness on iTunes (it’s number 7 in the list).

We all need to be aware of how words, actions and attitudes can stigmatize others.

Follow the hashtag #BellLetsChat on twitter. Bell will donate 5¢ to mental health initiatives for every tweet.

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